Hyderabad, Feb 11 (TNT): Polling for elections to 116 municipalities and seven municipal corporations across Telangana began early Wednesday amid tight security, following the recent gram panchayat elections.
Election officials said voting has been peaceful so far, with adequate arrangements in place to ensure free and fair polls.
The municipal elections are expected to play a crucial role in shaping urban governance and local administration across the state.
Polling commenced at 7.00 am and will continue until 5.00 pm.
The elections are being conducted using ballot papers, and results will be announced on February 13.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy cast his vote at the Zilla Parishad High School (Boys) polling station in Kodangal.
His participation marked a key moment as senior political leaders took part in the democratic process on the opening day of polling.
After voting, the Chief Minister proceeded to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, from where he departed for New Delhi for official engagements.
Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu cast his vote in Madhira in Khammam district.
Though several political parties are in the fray, the contest is expected to be largely triangular between the Indian National Congress, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) and the Bharatiya Janata Party in a majority of Urban Local Bodies (ULBs).
More than 52 lakh voters are set to decide the fate of over 13,000 candidates. Of these, 10,719 candidates are contesting from 2,569 wards in 116 municipalities, while 2,225 candidates are in the fray across 412 wards in the seven municipal corporations.
Elections were unanimous in 14 wards, including two wards in municipal corporations. Meanwhile, polling in one ward was adjourned following the death of a contesting candidate.
In a press conference on Tuesday, State Director General of Police B Shivadhar Reddy said elaborate security have been put in place for smooth and fair conduct of Urban Local Body elections across Telangana,
Security has been deployed at all 8,203 polling stations, including 1,302 hyper-sensitive and 1,926 sensitive locations, covering elections to seven Municipal Corporations and 116 Municipalities, he said.
Local police personnel are being supported by around 3,000 additional staff drawn from various departments, including TGSP, Forest, Excise, CID and Legal Metrology, he said to prevent illegal movement and ensure law and order, 20 inter-state border check posts have been set up along borders with Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra and Karnataka, along with 55 inter-district and intra-district check posts within the state.
Senior officers will closely monitor the polling process from the command and control centre at the DGP said.
Visible policing has been intensified, and 100 per cent webcasting is being ensured inside all polling stations and outside hyper-sensitive polling booths, he added.
TNT TS
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